I like historical novels - the Viking era at the moment with Bernard Cornwell's "Arthur" series. I spin off into none fiction stuff of the same times, antiquarian books, specially of my local area - so I'm also reading "The History and Antiquities of Cleveland" published in 1846 --

DEATH SONG OF RAGNAR LODBROK

(verse 7)

We fought with our swords on Northumbria's craggy mountains,
Where revengeful fate prevailing, haughty Ella drove us back;
Yet though hemm'd by countless thousands, we crimson'd Cleveland's fountains,
While shriek'd the hungry vulture along our gory track, --
Hurrah! hurrah! hurrah! how we clave their helms in twain,
And the blood-drops fell that day thick and fast as thunder-rain.

We fought with our swords :- O joy my soul is burning,
Enwrapt in dazzling vision, I behold Valhalla's hall!
To god Odin endless glory, for my spirit is returning
To dwell in pomp for ever with them who bravely fall:
Be accursed the craven coward who would shun the shock of war,
He shall drink no mead of Odin, nor ascend the heavenly car.

etc etc...

And that's only the true stuff. Ragnar was eventually seized by his enemy King Ella of Northumbria, and killed by being thrown into a pit of snakes. His sons - Ivar the Boneless, Bjorn Ironside, Halfdan Ragnarsson, Sigurd Snake-in-the-Eye, and Ubba, avenged him by invading England with the Great Heathen Army.

Cornwell weaves these historical facts, characters and myths into his novels, but the truth is even more blood-thirsty than his fiction...